Cats in the Cradle Songtext
von Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin′ 'fore I knew it
And as he grew, he′d say
"I'm gonna be like you, Dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you comin′ home, Dad?"
"I don't know when
But we′ll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then"


My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, c′mon let's play
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That′s okay"
And he, he walked away but his smile
Never dimmed and said
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you comin′ home, Dad?
"I don't know when
But we′ll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then"

Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
"Son, I′m proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys"
"See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat′s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you comin' home, son?"
"I don't know when
But we′ll get together then, Dad
You know we′ll have a good time then"


I've long since retired, my son′s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don′t mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time"
"You see, my new job′s a hassle and the kid's got the flu"
"But it's sure nice talkin′ to you, Dad
It′s been sure nice talkin' to you"

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He′d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you comin′ home, son?
"I don't know when
But we′ll get together then, Dad
We're gonna have a good time then"